BC Khimki adds Thomas Kelati

BC Khimki Moscow region improved its backcourt for the upcoming Euroleague Qualifying Rounds by adding sharp shooter Thomas Kelati, who inked a two-year deal with the Russian finalists on Friday. Kelati (195, 27) arrives from Power Electronics Valencia, where he averaged 8.3 points on 41.8% three-pointers and 3 rebounds in 15 Eurocup games last season. He helped Valencia to win its second Eurocup title. Kelati played for Unicaja in the 2008-09 season, averaging 11.8 points in 16 Euroleague games. Kelati tied the record for the most three-pointers made in a single Euroleague game all decade when he downed 9 shots from downtown in a Top 16 home win against Lottomatica Roma on March 4, 2009. Kelati previously played for Turow Zgorzelec, where he averaged 14.8 points in 15 ULEB Cup games in the 2007-08 season. Kelati helped Turow make it all the way to the ULEB Cup Final Eight, losing in the quarterfinals against Dynamo Moscow. In his two seasons in Zgorzelec, Kelati also reached back-to-back Polish League finals. Kelati previously played for Dexia Mons-Hainaut in Belgium after finishing his four-year college basketball career at Washington State University. He is the only professional basketball player with Eritrean roots. "We needed a perimeter player who could hit three-pointers. Thomas is one of the best shooters in Europe and we are pleased that we managed to sign him," Khimki CEO Viktor Bychkov said.